AU664998B2 - New packaging/containerization system - Google Patents

Description

664998

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NAME OF APPLICANT(S): Rhone-Poulenc Agrochimie ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

INVENTION TITLE: New packaging/containerization system The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:la FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to new containerization systems containing hazardous products and which are nevertheless safe for the handling and the environment. The invention relates also to a method of protecting the agricultural environment and to increase the safety of people working with agrochemicals.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART At present, most hazardous liquids are stored in metal drums or, where smaller quantities are required, plastic containers.

Hazardous compounds, especially agrochemical compounds, are formulated in various compositions, solid or liquid. Liquid compositions are most convenient for farmers because of the relative ease with which they can be handled. There are, nevertheless, difficulties in handling such liquid compositions. There is a danger of spillage or leakage if there are holes in the containers previously used or if they are dropped. Although secure containers resistant to shock can be used, in the event of an accident, for example during transportation, the risk remains of spillage or leakage with S' rapid loss of liquid, for example leaking onto the ground.

It is also known to use water soluble bags in order to reduce the contact between people and hazardous products, but the bags may break so that some risk still exist.

It has been difficult to provide a formulation and a containing system which safeguards those handling it, including farmers and transporters, and the environment.

This difficulty is particularly increased because the farmers are generally not very careful when handling materials.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a new containerization system to S\ the environment.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a new containerization system for agrochemicals which is as much condensed as possible, using the least amount of space.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a new containerization system to contain hazardous compounds e.g. agrochemicals which diminishes the risks of pollution.

As already said, it is known that agrochemicals may be contained in soluble bags or sachets made from films. Many kinds of active ingredients or pesticides may be used with water soluble bags. Due to the need of dispersibility in the tank of the farmer, the active ingredient should remain in a finely divided state. Powders may thus be used in water soluble bags, as well as liquid or gels or granules.

Another problem is due to the fact that water soluble bags may break when dropped, e.g. during transportation, handling, storage or the like. It is a particular object of the invention to provide containerization systems comprising a cold water soluble bag and an hazardous compounds such an agrochemical, which have a goodi resistance to failure when dropped.

It has been proposed (WO 89/12590) to have water soluble bags containing a liquid with an air-space therein or contained in a container having a shock absorbing base. This is a good improvement, but it is still desirable to further improve the resistance of bags to shock or dropping. Furthermore, the bags described in this known patent application, may be loosely filled so that they can flex, but it is still desirable to obtain strong shock resistance ability. An incomplete filling of some bags with liquid before final heat sealing was also known therefrom but this was rather connected to practical conditions of filling and sealing.

PH 92007 15 mai 1992 2 An object of the instant invention is to have good packaging containing active ingredient or hazardous compounds in the form of a liquid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorbing containerization system for containing agrochemicals, e.g. pesticides (such as insecticides, acaricides, fungicides, herbicides, nematicides) or plant protection agents or plant growth regulators.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a containerization system for containing agrochemicals which has very efficient shock absorbing properties, especially when dropped.

The present invention seeks to provide a new formulation system for agrochemicals which quickly dissolves or disperses when put into water, especially cold water of tank of farmers, such as those they commonly use for preparing the spray mixtures.

Other objects of the invention will better appear from the following description.

The objects of the invention can be achieved in full or in part by means of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a containerization system which comprises a concentrated hazardous and liquid composition in a water soluble bag wherein the bag has a residual inflatability.

g The water soluble bags in the invention are cold water soluble bag, that is to say S'bags which are soluble in water at a temperature less than 35C S The present invention provides also a method of manufacturing shock resistant containerization systems which comprises manufacturing of a water soluble bag which comprises a) filling a bag with a hazardous liquid composition, b) closing the bag and sealing the filled bag while providing a residual inflatability therein.

In other words, the bag used in the invention is inflatable to a volume greater than the initial volume of the content (agricultural composition and air space or gas space) of the bag.

In still other words (with the same meaning), the bag of the invention is filled at less than complete capacity, and the unused capacity may partially (not totally) contain air or any other gas or inert gas. The part of the unused capacity which does not contain air or a gas or an inert gas is the residual inflatability. For language convenience and for sake of clarity, the following description will only use the "residual inflatability" terminology. I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION More precisely, the residual inflatability has the following meaning assuming i that the inside volume of a bag completely filled or completely inflated is 100 volume units, and that it contains y volume unit of hazardous composition and x volume units of air space (air or any other inert gas) when closed, the residual inflatability (expressed in the form of a percentage) is 100 x y This is the definition and wording which is constantly used hereafter. Thus the actual volume of the closed bag is x y volume units, but could be 100 if completely inflated or filled.

According to the invention, the bag of the containerization system has a residual inflatability of more than 5 (as previously defined, it is a percentage of the volume of the inflated bag), preferably more than 10 still more preferably more than 15 and generally less than 70 On the other side, inflatability less than 40 or even less than are often useful. Sometimes inflatability less than 20 are considered as advantageous.

In the containerization system of the invention, an air space may be managed so i as to form a part of the volume of the bag. However it is considered that the residual inflatability is most efficient regarding resistance to shock and dropping of water i soluble bags containing agrochemicals, so that it is even possible, if desired, to avoid totally or partially such known air spaces while keeping rather performant properties of the bags. Thus, air space may be generally less than 20 of the volume of the bag, PH 92007 15 mai 1992 3 preferably less than 10 By the fact it is even possible, and in some respect advantageous, to have no air space in the bag (or an air space less than 1 In any case, with or without an air space within the bag, this bag may be inflated to a volume greater than the content of the bag (that is to say the actual volume of the composition contained in the closed bag plus the volume of the optional air space).

The advantageous effect of the invention comprising liquid compositions is substantial, due to the fact such compositions well transmit shock so that the bags are more easily broken and or more easily leak than other kinds of compositions.

Furthermore, the consequences of such a breakage or leakage are more damaging when there is spilling.

The compositions used in the invention are not diluted compositions for direct application on the soil or on the plant or on the area to be treated (whether it is a crop area or a non crop area), but they are in a concentrated form, that is to say in the form which is common for commercialization and they need to be diluted before use, especially before spraying. Thus the compositions used in the invention comprise generally more than 1 and up to 95 of hazardous product, preferably more than and up to 60 (percentage are w/w unless contrary indicated) of hazardous product.

Of course, the compositions used in the invention may contain all the known ingredients such as solvent(s), surfactant(s), dispersant(s), emulsifier(s), thickener(s) or thickening agent(s), or other additives, such as stabilizer(s) antifoaming agent(s), buffer(s), antifreezing agent(s).

Among the compositions of the invention as hereabove defined, some are preferred, especially those comprising one or more of the following constituents, (and/or having one or more of the following characteristics): the size of the suspended particles, if any, is less than 50 microns, preferably less I t than 20 microns, they comprise 1 to 95 more preferably 15 to 80 of the active ingredient or hazardous product, they comprise 0.1 to 50 more preferably 2 to 15 of the surfactant, they comprise 0 to 50 more preferably 1 to 10 of the thickener(s), 1 they comprise 0 to 94 of the solvent, more preferably 3 to 75 they comprise 0 to 20 of other additives (as herein before defined), preferably, 0.1 to fithey comprise less than 3 by weight of water, preferably less than 1%.

S' According to a particular feature of the invention, the components of the compositions are chosen in such a way that the liquid compositions of the invention have a loss modulus measured as hereafter defined, under speed of oscillations of 1 radian per seconde rd/s) less than 1 Pascal, preferably less than 0.5 According to a particular feature of the invention, the components of the compositions are chosen in such a way that the liquid compositions of the invention have a viscosity of 50 to 10000 centipoises, more preferably of 100 to 6000 centipoises i (these viscosities are Brookfield viscosities measured with a viscosimeter in form of a flat plate rotating at 20 revolutions per minute at 20*C). Low viscosities are generally helpful to get easy dispersibility of the formulation in water by the user (such as the farmer). However, in order to reduce possible leakages when punctures happen, higher viscosities are more favorable.

According to one feature, the compositions of the invention preferably have a specific gravity greater than 0.8, preferably greater than 0.90.

According to a particular feature of the invention, the components of the compositions are chosen in such a way that the compositions of the invention have a spontaneity (as hereafter defined) less than 75, preferably less than The spontaneity is assessed according to the following method: A mixture of 1 ml formulation with 99 ml water are put into a 150 ml glass tube which is stoppered and inverted through 180' (upside down). The number of times (that is to say of inversions) required to disperse 99 of the formulation is called the spontaneity.

I -T PH 92007 15 mai 1992 4 The liquid material which is used in the invention is essentially a material which has a phase difference phi between the controlled shear stress and the resulting shear strain such that tg(phi) is greater than 1.5, preferably greater than or equal to 5. Tg(phi) is the tangent of the phi angle (or phase difference). The'measurement of phi is made by means of a dynamic rheometer. Dynamic rheometers which are appropriate to measure phi are known and available commercially. They usually have a flat fixed plate and a rotating cone or plate, or a so-called couette system. Other mechanical systems are also available. Generally the choice of one system or another is made according to the recommandations of the seller of the rheometer, and is adapted to the kind of compound which is tested. The particular choice of a specific type of rheometer is something well known of the man skilled in the art of rheology. When two kinds of system for the rheometer are possible, similar values of phi are actually measured. The cone (or the plate or the couette) is caused to rotate by means of a controlled speed motor; the rotation is a sinusoidal one, the strain and the angular displacement change as a sine function with time. Tg(phi) is equal to the ratio wherein: G' is the storage modulus (represents the behaviour of a perfect solid); G" is the loss modulus (represents the behaviour of a perfect liquid). G' and G" are expressed in Pascal for a given rotational speed (radian per second).

G' and and thus tg(phi), may depend on the amplitude of the oscillations (percentage of strain) of the rheometer; however, there is generally a socalled viscoelastic plateau whereby the values G' and G" of a liquid do not depend "substantially on the said amplitude or percentage of strain. Of course, the measurement S.of G' and G" of a liquid is made under the conditions of this viscoelastic plateau, just because it corresponds to the normal liquid state which is precisely what is tested.

G' and and thus tg(phi), may also depend on the speed of the S. oscillations (time to reach the chosen percentage of strain; expressed as radian per Sseconde) of the rheometer. In order to have reasonable measurement of properties, it is generally preferred to operate at 1 rd/s, and optionally at other speed too.

By the words thickeners or thickening agents, it is meant a material corresponding to the active ingredient in such a way that, when mixed, at 50/50 w/w and 25'C, with (and optionally ground with) an organic solvent, a thickened suspension can be obtained. The thickeners in the invent'on can be either liquid or solid at 23'C and have, when they are solid, a particle size lower than 100 microns, preferably less than microns.

Thickeners which may be used in the invention include tetramethyl decyne diol, ethoxylated dialkylphenol, methylated clay, propylene carbonate, hydrogenated castor oil, ethoxylated vegetable oil, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, hexynediol, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium acetate or benzoate or sulfate, calcium sulfate, polyacrylic acid or its salts; silica or alumina; and mixtures thereof. Low molecular weight polymers can also be used as thickeners. These thickeners are generally used in an amount enough to thicken, but preferably unsufficient to create a gel.

•By the word surfactant, it is meant an organic material which is able to substantially reduce the surface tension of water which is 73 dynes/cm at Surfactants which can be used include lignosulfonic acid salts, phenolsulfonic or naphtalene sulfonic acid salts, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines; substituted phenols such as alkyl- or aryl- phenols; salts of sulfosuccinic acid; taurine derivatives such as alkyl taurides; polycondensates of ethylene oxide with phosphoric acid esters of alcohols or phenols; alkyl aryl polyoxyethylene glycol phosphate esters; alkyl aryl polyoxyethylene ethanol phosphate esters; branched chain alcohol sulfates; alkylbenzene sulfonates salts, such as calcium dodecyl benzene sulfonate; ethoxylated tristyryl phenols, and sulfates and phosphates thereof; alkyl poylethoxyether phosphates esters, either in acid or in salt form; ethoxylated fatty acids or alcohols; ethoxylated alkyl phenols or dialkyl phenols; ethoxylated castor oil; ethoxylated propoxylated block copolymers; ethoxylated propoxylated alkylphenol block copolymers; ethoxylated prcpoxylated tristyrylphenols; glycerol esters, especially esters of fatty acids; glycol esters, especially esters of fatty acids; lecithin and lecithin derivatives; sugar esters and other derivatives, as sorbitol, and sucrose or glucose esters or derivatives; sucroglycerides.

ii PH 92007 15 mai 1992 By the expression "hazardous product" as used herein is meant a product which may cause damage to the environment or be injurious to a person handling it. Hazardous compounds which are used in agriculture are mainly contemplated in the invention to be contained in water soluble bags with residual inflatability. Such hazardous compounds are ingredients active in agriculture, such as agrochemicals, and more precisely pesticides (such as herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, nematicides) or plant protection agents (including plant growth regulators or plant nutrient) or adjuvants for the activity for plants as activity promoters including penetrating agents, synergists, antidotes, sticking agents, spreaders, activators, and compatibility agents. Pesticides are however preferred.

The invention is not limited to some specific agrochemicals; a list of many agrochemicals which can be used in the invention includes Fungicides such as Triadimefon, Tebuconazole, Prochloraz, Triforine, Tridemorph, Propiconazole, Pirimicarb, Iprodione, Metalaxyl, Bitertanol, Iprobenfos, Flusilazol, Fosetyl, Propyzamide, Chlorothalonil, Dichlone, Mancozeb, Anthraquinone, Maneb, Vinclozolin, Fenarimol, Bendiocarb, Captafol, Benalaxyl, Thiram, Chlorothalonil, Captan, Zineb, Tridimefon, Metalaxyl, Iprodione, Fenarimol, Sulfur, Quintozene, copper salts, Vinclozolin, Thiophanate-methyl, Tricyclazole, Dicloran, Benomyl, Herbicides (or defoliants) such as quizalofop and its derivatives, Acetochlor, Metolachlor, Imazapur and Imazapyr, Glyphosate and Gluphosinate, Butachlor, SAcifluorfen, Oxyfluorfen, Butralin, Fluazifop-butyl, Bifenox, Bromoxynil, Ioxynil, SDiflufenican, Phenmedipham, Desmedipham, Oxadiazon, Mecopropo, MCPA, MCPB, MCPP, Linuron, Isoproturon, Flamprop and its Derivatives, Ethofumesate, Diallate, Carbetamide, Alachlor, Metsulfuron, Chlorsulfuron, Chlorpyralid, 2,4-d, Tribufos, Triclopyr, Diclofop-methyl, Sethoxydim, Pendimethalin, Trifluralin, Ametryn, S Chloramben, Amitrole, Asulam, Bentazone, Atrazine, Cyanazine, Thiobencarb, Prometryn, 2-(2-chlorobenzyl)-4,4-dimethyl-1,2-oxazolidin-3-one, Fluometuron, Napropamide, Paraquat, Bentazole, Molinate, Propachlor, Imazaquin, Metribuzin, Tebuthiuron, Oryzalin, Dicamba, Bromoxynil ester, Pursuit, Norflurazon, Simazine, Acifluorfen sodium, Trichlopyr, sulfonylureas and Trialkoxydim, t tv Insecticides or nematicides such as Ebufos, Carbosulfan, Amitraz, Vamidothion, Ethion, Triazophos, Propoxur, Permethrin, Cypermethrin, Parathion, Methylparathion, Diazinon, Methomyl, Lindane, Fenvalerate, Ethoprophos, Endrin, Endosulfan, Dimethoate, Dieldrin, Dicrotophos, Dichlorprop, Dichlorvos, Azinphos and its derivatives, Aldrin, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Disulfoton, Chlordimeform, Chlorpyrifos, Carbaryl, Dicofol, Thiodicarb, Propargite, Demeton, Phosalone, Acephate, Azinophosmethyl, Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Methamidofos, Fenbutalin oxide, Trichlorfon, Abamectin, Aldicarb, Malathion, and pyrethroids, Bacillis Thuringensis, Plant growth regulators such as gibberellic acid, Ethrel or Ethephon, Cycocel, SChlormequat, Ethephon, Dimethipin, Mepiquat, and other biological biocides and mixtures thereof.

The preparation or manufacturing of the compositions of the invention can be made by any known method. A convenient way is to mix together the different constituents of the mixture/composition and to stir them, optionally with grinding or milling and/or heating. Grinding and/or milling are generally necessary in order to obtain the active ingredient in the form of particles to be suspended having the size as heieinbefore defined. Sometimes it is easier to operate with a slow addition of the constituents of the composition and it might be also useful that the thickening agent is added last.

The instant invention includes also containerization systems which comprise water soluble or water dispersible bags containing the formulations as hereabove defined.

The chemical nature of the enveloping film constituting the bags which may contain the composition of the invention can vary quite widely. Suitable material are water soluble (or possibly water dispersible) materials which are insoluble in the organic solvents used to dissolve or disperse the agrochemical active ingredient.

Specific suitable materials include polyethylene oxide, such as polyethylene glycol; starch and modified starch; alkyl and hydroxyalkylcellulose, such as PH 92007 15 mai 1992 6 hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose; carboxymethylcellulose; polyvinylethers such as poly methyl vinylether; poly(2,4dimethyl-6-triazolylethylene); poly(vinylsulfonic acid); polyanhydrides; low molecular weight urea-formaldehyde resins; low molecular weight melamine-formaldehyde resins; poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate); polyacrylic acid and its homologs; but preferably the enveloping film comprises or is made from polyvinylalcohol (PVA). It might be that some agrochemicals may react with some polymers constituting the wall of the bags; in such a situation, the material constituting the wall of the bag is changed into a material which is inert :o the agrochemical.

Preferred material for constituting the bags for the compositions of the invention include polyethylene oxide or methylcellulose, or polyvinylalcohol. When polyvinylalcohol is used, it is advantageously a 40-100 preferably 80-99 alcoholysed or hydrolyzed, polyvinyl acetate film.

The water soluble films which are used to make the water soluble bags may be any water soluble film known per se. In order to make a bag, the film needs to be shaped (possibly partially sealed) and then filled with the liquid compositions comprising the hazardous compound. When filled (as herein before defined), the bags have to be finally sealed, generally heat sealed, to be closed.

According to the characteristic of the invention, the water soluble bags are not completely filled with the hazardous compositions. They are only partially filled, and then sealed. When they are sealed, they may be sealed rather close to the hazardous composition so as to include either no air space or very little air space. They may also be closed so as to maintain some air space between the composition and the wall of the bag. Nevertheless, in all cases the bag when filled, is not expanded so as to be completely inflated. On the contrary, the wall of the bag are maintained in such a position that further substance could be put in the bag if desirable; but due to the fact that it is not desired in the invention, the bag is closed (generally by sealing) well before complete inflatation. After closing (generally by sealing), the bag could be reopened and further filled. This is generally not done, but this is explained in order to have a better understanding of the partial inflatation characterizing the invention.

The invention relates also to a method of manufacturing shock resistant containerization systems according to the hereabove description which cor-prises manufacturing of a water soluble bag by a) filling a bag with a hazardous liquid composition, b) closing the bag and sealing the filled bag while providing a residual e inflatability therein.

As already said, the invention relates also to a method of protecting the agricultural environment, which method is using any containerization system according to the hereabove description in storage or transport of agrochemicals. To get spray mixtures is easily done by mixing water with such containerization system, for example in water of a spray tank.

The following examples are given for illustrative purposes and should not be understood as restricting the invention.

EXAMPLE (generic part of the disclosure) The following general procedure was used.

The watet soluble film which was used to make the water soluble bag is known.

In order to make a bag, the film was shaped and partially sealed and then partially filled with a composition of the invention. When filled, the bag was finally heat sealed in order to be closed.

The concentrated composition was prepared by adding ingredients and additives while shearing and/or milling (attrition milling). The surfactants and active ingredient(s) were then added and mixed.

In this example, the Brookfield viscosity was measured, as previously indicated, with a Brookfield viscosimeter which had a flat plate rotating at 20 revolutions per minute at I PH 92007 15 mai 1992 7 Tg(phi) is measured as previously indicated with a dynamic rheometer (sold in USA under the name RFS) with a percentage of strain of 1 and a speed of oscillations of 1 rd/s. Tg(phi) was more than EXAMPLE 1 The components are listed below and the per cent given: COMPONENT PERCENT Bromoxynil octanoate (active ingredient) 28.7 Bromoxynil heptanoate (active ingredient) 27.6 Alkyl benzenes with 10 -12 carbon atoms (flash point 150 C; solvent) 34.65 Polydimethylsiloxane (antifoaming agent) 0.05 Calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (emulsifier) Polyalkylene glycol ether (emulsifier) The components were mixed together. The viscosity of this mixture is approximately 45 centipoise. The spontaneity was 1 This formulation was then packaged in water soluble polyvinyl alcohol bag. The bag was made from a folded polyvinyl alcohol film. The i. lyvinyl alcohol was cold water soluble and had a hydrolysis rate of acetate groups of 88 The film was folded

S

e so as to form a vertical tube and heat sealed according to an horizontal line at the bottom; a second seal was made according to a vertical line crossing the first seal at the lowest part of the seal; after filling, the closing of the bag was made through a third seal which was made according to a horizontal line crossing the vertical seal at its upper part.

The bag could have been filled up to a volume of 1000 ml if completely filled.

Only 700 ml of pesticidal composition were put into the bag, leaving very little air space (less than 1 Thus the residual inflatability was about 30 100 identical bags were dropped 2 times from 1.2 m upon the ground. No breaking or leakage is observed.

EXAMPLES 2 to Similar bags with similar residual inflatability are prepared with followng specificities Example 2 Bromoxynil Octanoate 35.4 Isooctyl ester of methylchloropropionic acid 35.0 Sulfonate Nonionic Blend Emulsifier 3.5 Calcium Alkylarylsulfonate 1.5 S Aromatic Naphthalenic Solvent 24.6 The ingredients are mixed until solution is achieved. 500 ml sample is poured into polyvinylalcohol bag.

500 ml of the liquid mixture were poured into a polyvinylalcohol cold water soluble bag and heat sealed. The residual inflatability of this bag was about 33 and a very small air space (less than 1 was present. 100 filled bags were made in the same way and dropped from 88 cm. No bag broke Example 3 Alachlor 64.6 Cyclohexanone 30.4 Block polymer of polyhydroxystearic acid and polyethylene glycol 4.5 Mixture of calcium dodecylbenzene sulfonate with an aromatic solvent and with block copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and ethoxylated nonyl phenol 0.5 ;ill

I;;

PH 92007 15 mai 1992 8 The ingredients are mixed until solution is achieved. 700 ml sample is poured into polyvinylalcohol bag.

700 ml of the liquid mixture were poured into a polyvinylalcohol cold water soluble bag and heat sealed. The residual inflatability of this bag was about 30 and no air space was present. filled bags were made in the same way and repeatedly dropped from 88 cm until each bags fails.

The drop average required to reach failure was 14 Example 4 Bromoxynil Octanoate 36.0 Sulfonate Nonionic Blend Emulsifier 5.5 Calcium Alkylarylsulfonate 1.5 Aromatic Solvent 57.0 The ingredients are mixed until solution is achieved. 700 ml sample is poured into polyvinylalcohol bag.

700 ml of the liquid mixture were poured into a polyvinylalcohol cold water soluble bag and heat sealed. The residual inflatability of this bag was about 30 and a very small air space (less than 1 was present. 50 filled bags were made in the same way and dropped from 137 cm. 7 bags failed.

Example Ethoprop 70.0 Phosphate Ester Aromatic solvent 25.0 The ingredients are mixed until solution is achieved. 1 liter sample is poured into polyvinylalcohol bag.

1000 ml of the liquid mixture were poured into a polyvinylalcohol cold water soluble bag and heat sealed. The residual inflatability of this bag was about 25 and a very small air space (less than 1 was present. 25 filled bags were made in the same way and dropped from 137 cm. 6 bags failed.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or S group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

LIS 4' .*p r t O 1 1 )t 1

Claims (21)

1. A containerization system which comprises a concentrated hazardous and liquid composition in a cold water soluble bag wherein the bag has a residual inflatability greater than 5 of the volume of the inflated bag.

2. A containerization system according to claim 1 wherein the hazardous con.position comprises a compound active in agriculture.

3. A containerization system according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the hazardous composition comprises an agrochemical, preferrably a pesticide..

4. A containerization system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the hazardous composition comprises a compound which may be a pesticide, a herbicide, a fungicide, a insecticide, a acaricide, a nematicide, a plant protection agent, i 'a plant growth regulator, a plant nutrient, an adjuvant for the activity for plants, an activity promoter, a penetrating agent, a synergist, an antidote, a sticking agent, a spreader, an activator, a compatibility agent. Pesticides are however preferred. A containerization system according to anyone of claims 1 to 4 wherein the bag has a residual inflatability greater than 10 of the volume of the inflated bag.

6. A containerization system according to claim 5 wherein the bag has a residual inflatability greater than 15 of the volume of the inflated bag.

7. A containerization system according to anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein the bag has a residual inflatability less than 70 preferably less than 40 of the volume of the inflated bag. I I V II PH 92007 15 mai 1992

8. A containerization system according to anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the bag has an air space of less than 20

9. A containerization system according to claim 8 wherein the bag has a residual inflatability greater than 10 of the volume of the inflated bag, and an air space of less than 20 A containerization system according to anyone of claims 1 to 9 wherein the bag has an air space of less than 10

11. A containerization system according to anyone of claims 1 to 10 wherein the bag has no air space or an air space less than 1

12. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 11 wherein the composition comprises 1 and up to 95 of hazardous product

13. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 12 wherein the composition comprises more than 20 and up to 60 of hazardous product

14. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 13 wherein the composition comprises suspended particles, whose size is less than 50 microns A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 14 wherein the composition comprises suspended particles, whose size is less than 20 microns

16. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 15 wherein the composition comprises more than 15 and up to 80 of hazardous product

17. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 16 wherein the composition comprises more than 1 and up to 95 of hazardous product, 0.1 to of surfactant, 0 to 50 of thickener(s), 0 to 94 of solvent, 0 to 20 of other additives, less than 3 by weight of water.

18. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 17 wherein the composition comprises more than 1 and up to 95 of hazardous product, 2 to of surfactant, 1 to 10 of thickener(s), 3 to 75 of solvent, 0.1 to 10 of other additives, less than 1 by weight of water.

19. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 18 wherein the composition is a liquid having a viscosity between 600 and 30000 centipoise A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 19 wherein the composition is a liquid having a viscosity between 1000 and 6000 centipoise 21 A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 20 wherein the composition is a.liquid having a specific gravity greater than 0.8 preferably greater than 0.9

22. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 21 wherein the composition is a liquid having a spontaneity less than 75 preferably less than

23. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 22 wherein the composition is a liquid having a phase difference phi between the controlled shear stress and the resulting shear strain such that tg(phi) is greater than S24. A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 23 wherein the composition is a liquid having a phase difference phi between the controlled shear stress and the resulting shear strain such that tg(phi) is greater than or equal to 5 A containerization system according to any one of claim 1 to 24 wherein the water soluble bag comprises an enveloping film made of a material selected in the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol; starch and modified starch; alkyl and hydroxyalkylcellulose, such as hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose; carboxymethylcellulose; polyvinylethers, poly methyl vinylether; poly(2,4-dimethyl-6-triazolylethylene); poly(vinylsulfonic acid); polyanhydrides; low molecular weight urea-formaldehyde resins; low molecular weight melamine-formaldehyde resins; poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate); polyacrylic acid and its homologs; polyvinylalcohol, methylcellulose

26. A method of manufacturing shock resistant containerization systems according to any one of claims o 2wch comrisesmanufacturing of a water soluble bag by a) filling g cUfpf-r--M% losing the bag and sealing the filled bag while providing a residual inflatability therein.

27. A method of protecting the agricultural environment, wherby a A containerization system according to any one of claims 1 to 25 is used in storage or 2 transport of agrochemicals. ^g H Z J9 11

28. A containerization system according to claim 1, or a method of use thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Examples. The QteDR. toQatui-r._ Qpmnngi tioens and eempeunds, Pt t P. 'C" C C It P ttCC C tt A ~t t* I' I I I I" C I. *k 1 I I C I till C Cl. I I I tI I I I I tIll dicclcod hrcinc rcfcrrzzd te er indieated in h1e speelfieatien and/er elaims ef this applieatles, i ndividuWOally or crlloc-rtivoly, and any and all eembinations of= any twe er merc ef said steps or features. DATED this FIFTH day of JUNE 1992 Rhone-Poulenc Agrochimie by DAVIES COLLUSON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant(s)